GUWAHATI, June 26 – After four days, the doors of Kamakhya Temple opened for the visitors around 6 am today. The temple doors remained closed for the visitors since 12 noon of June 22 on the occasion of Ambubachi.

It is widely believed that Goddess Kamakhya goes on her menstrual cycle during these days and therefore, the temple remains closed during the days of the Ambubachi, which is also known as Amoti or tantric fertility festival and a four-day mela (fair) is held on the occasion at Nilachal hillock – the seat of the shakti shrine.

According to Naba Kanta Sarma, secretary, Kamakhya Debuttor Board, around 40,000 devouts offered their obeisance to the Goddess inside the temple today, while a similar number of devotees offered their obeisance to the goddess by doing the parikrama around the temple.

It needs mention here that with today’s figures of visitors, the total number of pilgrims visiting the Nilachal hillock since June 19 has reached around nine lakh.

The temple remained open for the visitors since 6 am to 6 pm without any break. It will remain open for the visitors for 12 hours a day, without break, till June 30. During this period, the temple authorities will stop issuing passes to the special visitors, Sarma said.

The festival passed off peacefully. The Kamakhya Debuttor Board thanked all the pilgrimswho took the pains to visit the Nilachal hillock during the fair and also those whoextended support to the organisers in various ways.

Source: The Assam Tribune, DT. June 26, 2013.